apotheosis

noun

apo·​the·​o·​sis ə-ˌpä-thē-ˈō-səs  ˌa-pə-ˈthē-ə-səs 

plural apotheoses ə-ˌpä-thē-ˈō-ˌsēz 

ˌa-pə-ˈthē-ə-ˌsēz

1

a

: the perfect form or example of something : quintessence

the apotheosis of Hollywood glamour

… Nelson Rockefeller, the other top contender and the apotheosis of liberal Republicanism.

—Sam Tanenhaus

b

: the highest or best part of something : peak

The city reaches its apotheosis at the holiday …

—David Leavin

2

: elevation to divine status : deification

the apotheosis of Roman emperors

apotheosize

ˌa-pə-ˈthē-ə-ˌsīz 

ə-ˈpä-thē-ə-

transitive verb

Did you know?

Among the ancient Greeks, it was sometimes thought fitting to grant someone "god" status. Hence the word apothéōsis, from the verb apotheóō or apotheoûn, meaning "to deify." (All are rooted in Greek theós, meaning "god," which we can also thank for such religion-related terms as theology and atheism.). There's not a lot of literal apotheosizing to be had in modern English, but apotheosis is thriving in the 21st century. It can refer to the highest or best part of something, as in "the celebration reaches its apotheosis in an elaborate feast," or to a perfect example or ultimate form, as in "a movie that is the apotheosis of the sci-fi genre."

Synonyms

• acme
• beau ideal
• byword
• classic
• epitome
• exemplar
• ideal
• perfection
• quintessence

Examples of apotheosis in a Sentence

the apotheosis of the picaresque novel

Recent Examples on the Web

The apotheosis of this bemusing sentiment was the Hamas massacre of Oct. 7, 2023. —Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025

Of course, formerly powerful women lashing out at a looming insignificance has at times been a staple of Hollywood cinema; the apotheosis is the delusional diva Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard. —Robyn Bahr, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Dec. 2024

Humans crave ritual, belonging, and a sense of being part of a larger story — aspirations that reach their apotheosis at the Thanksgiving table. —Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 27 Nov. 2024

Their bond came to symbolize a natural affinity between the United States and the United Kingdom, which intensified during the Reagan-Thatcher era and reached its apotheosis as President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair urged the case for war in Iraq. —Peter Martin, Foreign Affairs, 24 Apr. 2016

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin apotheōsis "transformation into a god, deification," borrowed from Greek apothéōsis, from apotheō-, variant stem of apotheóō, apotheoûn "to transform into a god, deify" (from apo- apo- + theoûn "to make a god of," verbal derivative of theós "god") + -sis -sis — more at theo-

First Known Use

circa 1580, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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